title: Laproscopic versus open appendectomy: a comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the results of open with laparoscopic appendectomy in terms of postoperative pain, rate of wound infection and hospital stay.
  
  
  METHODS
  This quasi-experimental study was conducted in Deprtment of Surgery, Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi, over a period of six months. Patients undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis were randomly assigned into one of the two groups (A or B) after obtaining written and informed consent. In Group-A patients underwent open appendectomy and in Group B laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. Post operatively pain chart and wound infection was recorded and, at the time of discharge, number of days in hospital was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty patients (38 male, 22 female), with clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis based on Alvarado score of six and above, were included in the study. They were randomized into 2 groups of A and B with 30 patients in each group. Group-A comprised open appendectomy procedure and Group-B comprised laparoscopic appendectomy. Mean comparison of postoperative pain by visual analogue scale, was significantly low in Group B, compared with Group A, on day 0, 1 and 2. Number of days in Hospital was 4.1 +/- 0.8 days in Group A and 1.5 +/- 0.06 days in Group B. None of the patients in Group B, while 8 (26.67%) patients in-Group A, developed postoperative wound infection at 1 week follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic appendectomy is safe and effective. Wound infection and postoperative pain is significantly lower after this mode of surgery
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi.
authors.forename: Bushra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shirazi
authors.forename: Naureen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Muhammad Shahid
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shamim
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents